Tbaffic signal



Aug. 4, 1925.

F. E. FITCH TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 30, 1924 3 Sheets-sheet. 1

INVENTOR: M {7&4

V ATTORNES.

Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,450

F. E. FITCH TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 30. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR:

Aug. 4, I925.

F. E. FITCH TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 30, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 NVENTOR:

Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filed. January 30, 1924. Serial No. 689,417.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. FITCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Traflic Signal, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a certain novel construction in traffic signals,of the general type disclosed in my copending application for Patent Serial No. 559,726, filed May 10, 1922,whereby all the traffic is stopped by displaying the Stop signal in all directions; before the Go signal can be displayed in any direction, and whereby the shifting from one street to the other can be made as slowly or as quickly as desired; and whereby, moreover, the Gro signal can not be displayed in more than one direction at the same time. For the purpose of warning, I have provided novel means whereby a Slow signal may be displayed continuously and in all directions when there is no officer at the signal directing traffic;thus acting as what is known as a silent policeman.

To the above ends my invention embodies certain novel construction, comprising a base, a vertical standard arising from the base, Stop and Go sign so collocated and supported upon the ends of arms pivoted to said standard, that the proper signs can be displayed at will, through apertures provided in a housing completely surrounding said signs; by the manual operation of a single handle, located on the standard and readily accessible to the operator.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Fig. 1, represents a perspective view of the upper part of a traffic signal embodying my invention, the housing being removed for the purpose of clearer illustration.

F ig. 2, represents a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 1, including the housing.

Fig. 3, represents a view in elevation of my trafiic signal showing the position of the operating handle when Stop signs are displayed in all directions.

Fig. 4-, represents a similar View in elevation showing the position of the operating handle when the Go sign is displayed in one direction, and

Fig. 5, represents a view in elevation of my trafiic signal, showing the position of the parts when the signal is not under the supervision of a traffic officer.

Figure 6 represents a side elevation of a portion of the signal.

Figure 7 represents a section on line 77 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 represents a section on line 88 of Figure 4.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the base which is of sufiicient weight and area to support the traffic signal under normal conditions of operation, as well as against any abnormal weather conditions such as a wind storm. Arising from the base is the vertical standard 2 which may be of any suitable cross-section, but for reasons of economy and rigidity I prefer to use a tubular standard of annular cross-section. To the upper portion of the standard I secure upon horizontal pivots, two arms 3 and 4 in any suitable manner and at an angle to each other; this angle depending upon the angle of intersection of the two streets of which the traflic is to be regulated. Secured to the extremities of the arms 3 and 4 are the sign panels 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively. The panels as well as the arms, are enclosed in the housing 9, consisting of a top 10 and vertical side members 11 having apertures or windows 12, through which the signs Go and Stop are made visible.

Each sign panel bears the word Go on one half and the word Stop on the other half of said panel the words being superimposed upon each other; the two halves being at an angle to each other, so as to bring each half into a vertical plane when the sign thereon is being displayed through the aperture or window 12.

The proper collocation of the Go and Stop signs is attained by novel operat ing means, comprising arocker arm 18 and an operating handle 1 1 both fixed to a horizontal pivot 15 which is secured to the standard, about midway of its height; in any suitable manner, such as passing the pivot through a horizontal bearing formed in the standard, as shown in Figs. 3, 1, and 5. Between each end of the rocker arm 13 and each one of the signal arms 3 and 4 I interpose connecting rods 16 and 17 which are pivotally secured to the respective hds of the rocker arm 18 and so connected with one side of each of the signal arms 3 and respectively; as to positively engage the said arms on the downward movement of the respective connecting rod and make a yielding engagement with the same on the upward movement of the con necting rod. This I accomplish by passing the free end of the connecting rod through asufiieiently arge aperture formed in one side of the signal arm in any suitable manner such a's'shown at 18 in Figs. 1 and 2,-and placing a positive stop upon the connecting red ilnmediately above the signal arm and a yielding stop immediately belowthe arm. The "upper stop in the spe cific embodiment of my invention is a pin 19 passing through the connecting rod, while. the lower yielding stop is a helical compression spring 20 surrounding the rod. and held in compression against the signal a'rhfbythe spring seat 21 which is either integral with the connecting rod or fixedly attached thereto. The signal arms, rocher arms, counectingrods and springs are so proportioned that when the connecting rod pivots are in the same horizontal plane, and the handle 14: is in the vertical or neuti'al position, as shown'inFigs. 3 and 5, tlieeompi'ession of the springs '20 is equal and is at a minimum, thereby making this position o't the rocker arm 13 the neutral point, into which position the mechani n will tend to swing. The signals Go and Stop or their equivalents, are so collocated onthe sign panels :3, 6, 7, and 8 that the Stop signal is displayed through the windows on all the "l on s ides, when the mechanism is in the neutral position shown 1 and 3,

By turning the handle 1-1, and hence the rocker arm 13 about the pivot 15 into one of two opposed operative positions, as shown in Figures a and 8, one of the connectingi'od pivots 22 is raised above and the ether one lowered below the neutral horizontal'plane,'thereby causing the signal arm en aged by the downward moving connecting rod, to be turned about its pivot;

bringing into display the Go signals on the sign panels fixed to this arm. The upwardly moving connecting rod, however, instead of turning its respective signal arm, which rests against a fixed stop 23; passes up through the aperture 18 in the signal arm, merely compressing the spring 20. It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the handle it is in its neutral or vertical position shown in Figures 3, 5 and 7, the coacting indicia are set in all stop position, and when said handle is turned in directions, by the stops 23, the stops be I so positionedupon the stands-rue that the Go-'G'o and Stop-Stopsigns are made to coincide accurately with the apertures or windows 12, when the arm rests" against the respective stops. L

In order to make the signals clearly visible at nighttime, the sign panels 5,- 6, 7, and 8 are opa ue while the words Go and. Stop are "transparent, so that a light within [the housing 9 will illuminate the same very effectively.

Above each, one at the windows in the opaque side walls of the heesing 9, I provid'ethe signals slew in'tra11spaientletters. hen the traffic signal "is underthe supervision ot a tral'hc ofiicer, the sliding' shutters 2 1 retained within the guides are in the upper position covering the Slow signals and exposin'd the windows 12 for the "display ofthe"uro and Stop signals, as shown in Figs. 2, 3,"and 4. lVhen for any reason howeverythe officer mustleave the signal unattended, he sin ply lowers the shutters :24, so as to cover the windows 12 and exj'iose to view the signals Slow, as shown in Fig. 5, in which position the sigiial'will act as a silent po liceina'n.

For the purpose of eii'iiphilsis, I illuminate the 'varioussigns' Go, Stop and Slo\v "in the different conventional colors used in signaling, to designate the various signals. To this end, stip'erimpose upon, and back up each transparent sign, with a sheet oi transparent material such as glass or celluloidoi the proper color. The colors Ipr'eler to use are ;-green for Go, red for Stop, ando'range for SlowKsince these colors have I become conventional by their continued use; although I may avail myself or any other set of colors.

While I have shown as a specific embodiment of my invention, a trafhc signal for the control of the traffic of two intersecting streets only; it is understood that my invention is not limited to such intersections, since by the addition of another signal arm 3, I can control the intersection of three streets.

It is further understood that I do not limit myself to the use of the word Go, Stop, and Slow; for any other words implying the same meanings will be equally suitable, and these words are used in the specification and claims with this understanding.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a traflic signal, a plurality of signal arms pivotally supported in non-parallel vertical planes; signal panels secured to the extremities of said signal arms and bearing the indicia Go and Stop; a housing surrounding said arms and panels, and having apertures in the side walls thereof; and a manual y operated mechanism for registering the signs Go and Stop witlrthe apertures in said housing in predetermined collocation.

2. In a traiiic signal, a plurality of signal panels having upper and lower portions arranged at an obtuse angle and having indicia thereon indicative of the stoppage and resumption of traflic, a housing surrounding said signal panels and having windows therein in operative alignment with said panels through which said indicia are visible, and means for supporting and ac tuating said panels.

3. In a traiiic signal, a plurality of signal arms, pivotally supported in a. plurality of intersecting planes, fixed stops for said arms, and a manually operable mechanism adapted to so control the movement of the said signal arms between said stops, that no two signal arms move simultaneously; said mechanism comprising a single operating handle, a rocker arm, and semi-yieldable connections interposed between the arms of said rocker and the respective signal arm.

4. In a trafiic signal, a plurality of signal arms pivotally supported in intersecting vertical planes; signal panels secured to the extremities of said signal arms, and bearing the indicia Go. and Stop in vertical alignment with each other; a housing surrounding said arms and panels comprising a top and plurality of vertical side members, and having apertures in the side members thereof; and manually operable actuating means for registering the sign Go and Stop with the said apertures in predetermined collocation; said mechanism comprising operating handle and rocker-arm fixedly united on one horizontal pivot, and connections interposed between each arm of said rocker and the respective signal arm.

5. In a trafiic signal, a plurality of pivoted signal arms, fixed stops therefor, and manually operable means adapted to actuate said signal arms in a manner such that no two arms may be moving at the same time; said means comprising a single operating handle a horizontal pivot and a rocker arm fixedly secured to said pivot, and connections interposed between the arms of said rocker and one side of each of the respective signal arms; each of said connections consisting of a connecting rod pivotally secured to the ends of said rocker arm and slidably secured to the signal arms in a manner to positively engage the said signal arm when moving in one direction and yieldably engage the same when moving in the opposed direction.

6. In a traiiic signal, a base, a vertical standard supported thereon, a plurality of signal arms pivotally secured to the upper part of said standard so as to be movable in non-parallel vertical planes; signal panels secured to the extremities of said arms and having upper and lower portions at an obtuse angle and bearing indicia thereon indicative of the stoppage and resumption of tratfic; a housing surrounding said arms and panels, and having apertures in the side walls thereof; and a manually operable mechanism for registering the said indicia with the apertures in said housing in predetermined collocation.

7. In a traflic signal, signal arms, a plurality of signal panels supported on said signal arms; a housing surrounding said signal panels and having apertures in the side walls thereof for exposing to view the indicia upon said panels; shutters upon the outer sides of said walls adapted to cover the said apertures and thereby expose to view indicia borne by the walls of said housing.

8. In a traflic signal, signal arms, a plurality of signal panels supported thereon, a housing surrounding said signal panels and having apertures in the side walls thereof for exposing to view the indicia upon said panels; and vertically slidable shutters upon the outer sides of said walls adapted to cover the said apertures and thereby 6X: pose to view the indicia borne by the walls of said housing; said shutters being supported between vertical guides upon the outer side of said walls.

9. In a traffic signal, a plurality of signal panels, each having indicia thereon indicative of the stoppage and resumption of traflic, a horizontal pivot, means intermediate said pivot and said signal panels for actuating the same, and an operating handle carried by said pivot at substantially an angle of 45 d egfees to fife 'ho'rizdntztl, In testimony whereof, I haveheneunto 32nd handle hfifilng two opposed operatlve slgned my name.

positions coryesponding with and jndicative 4 4 of the two hnes of travel respectlvely, and FRANCIS FITCH hzwmg an lntermedmte neutral po'sltlon cor- W1tnesses:

. respondlng wlth and lndlcatlve of the stop- EKIHAYWABD FAIRBANKS,

page of t 'a'ffic in all directions. 7 N. 'BUSSIYNGER. 

